Cita Della Scienza is a Sustainable Eco-District Envisioned For Rome

Citta della Scienza -- or City of Science -- is an upmarket, highly sustainable eco-district envisioned by Vincent Callebaut, as he turns his future towards the Eternal City soon after unveiling his vision for the sustainable Paris of the future. Callebaut's vision involves transforming a large plot of land in Rome's Flaminio quarter into a $286 million upmarket district.

The plan calls for existing industrial and military units to be converted into trendy lofts and indoor gardens. The concept includes space for science exhibits, a sports center with a soccer pitch and tapering residential towers topped by green roofs and solar canopies. The district's upmarket character is added to by art galleries, bars and restaurants.

Cita della Scienza is undoubtedly a pretty ambitious concept, but this kind of outside-the-box thinking is set to be increasingly accepted as architects try to figure out how to maintain urban populations without compromising on sustainability.